Go Memphis

Most people know Amy LaVere as a world-traveling, bass-thumping chanteuse of memorable songs and glorious voice. But today she is a Sun Studio tour guide (or as she says, a "history of rock and roll ambassador"). Although Elvis Week is well underway, Monday is a quiet one for visiting fans, a sort of pause in the action before it picks up steam on Tuesday. Full story »

In addition to luring thousands of fans to Memphis, Elvis Week attracts filmmakers and inspires film exhibitors. Old Elvis musicals are revived, and new Elvis movies are debuted: * "Lonely Street," a comic murder mystery in which a "two-bit gumshoe" named Bubba (Jay Mohr) is hired by a septuagenarian Elvis (beautifully played by Robert Patrick) continues throught August 16 at the Hollywood 20 Cinema, 6711 Stage. Full story »

The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, one of the biggest attractions of Elvis tribute week, is Wednesday and Thursday at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. Full story »

River City Artists, a local collective of emerging talent under the direction of noted watercolorist Fred Rawlinson, has weighed in on the topic of Elvis art with "Our Town II: Eyes on Graceland," a group show at Memphis Botanic Garden in the Visitors Center Gallery. Running through Aug. 31, the exhibit consists of 70 works by 15 artists who were given rare access to the grounds of Graceland in arriving at their depictions. Such access is given infrequently, says Kevin Kern, director of public relations for Elvis Presley Enterprises. Full story »

Fans of The King will have a variety of events to fill their schedules during Elvis Week 2009. Full story »

In what will be its only theatrical booking prior to its DVD release next week on the Echo Bridge Home Entertainment label, “Lonely Street” opens Friday at the Hollywood 20 Cinema, in an attempt to attract the fans who are in town for “Elvis Week.” The movie — a comic murder mystery that casts Robert Patrick as a healthy, septuagenarian Elvis — ends its exclusive run on Aug. 16, which marks the 32nd anniversary of Presley’s death. Full story »

It proved to be a big day for Memphis on Wednesday as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its annual list of inductees, including bassist Bill Black and drummer DJ Fontana of Elvis Presley's band and Southern soul musician Spooner Oldham. Full story »

As Elvis tributes go, Saturday night’s concert at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts was as close to heaven as a fan could ask. “This was the most exciting evening I’ve had in a long time,” declared Mindy Campbell of Memphis, who brought along a memory of seeing Elvis in his last concert in Hawaii. And while the nearly full auditorium witnessed the visual revival of Elvis performing some numbers on video, it was so much more. Full story »

Elvis Presley would have been 74 on Thursday and we can only imagine what it would be like had a septuagenarian King of Rock and Roll lived to celebrate the occasion. He might very well have had fun doing a gig with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and it could even have been like the one planned for Saturday night at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. Full story »

Brandon Bennett of Ponchatoula, La., turned out a high-energy version of “Polk Salad Annie” that convinced the judges to name him winner of the 2008 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Thursday night. “It’s been a great ride and a lot of fun,” he said after the contest at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. A near-capacity crowd of Elvis fans turned out to find out which of 10 finalists would get the coveted designation. Full story »

Brandon Bennett was named the winner of the 2008 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Thursday. Full story »

On Friday evening, the annual adoration of Elvis means candles, tributes and shrines in the street. The all-American shrine to Elvis is open to many interpretations — secular, religious and occasionally ironic. Why shouldn’t everybody have an Elvis shrine? Especially here in Memphis. Entertainment writer Christopher Blank decided to make his own Elvis shrine this year. Full story »

Ten finalists were selected after the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest semifinals Wednesday night at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. The event, organized by Elvis Presley Enterprises, brought together 22 tribute artists from around the world who had won regional competitions. Those who will perform tonight at 7 at the Cannon Center are: Full story »

It was delightfully surreal when the 22 Elvises crowded onto the stage at EP Delta Kitchen this afternoon. The participants in the 2008 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest introduced themselves to the cheers of fans and friends who were invited to the meet-and-greet because they had reserved "Platinum" tickets for Wednesday’s semifinals and Thursday finals at the Cannon Center. Full story »

Even now, Elvis' death could be classified as a medical "mystery," says Maurice Elliott, former vice president of Baptist Hospital. But Jerry Francisco, the medical examiner who performed Elvis' autopsy, would attribute the death to a heart attack. Full story »